Appliance for positioning automobile parts for reforming operations



1951 H. w. PORTER ET AL 2,542,336

APPLIANCE FOR POSITIONING AUTOMOBILE PARTS FOR REFORMING OPERATIONS Filed Aug. 5, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet l I nvenio rs. flenry WPo Y'ZQP, a WaZlzafizHFergusom Feb. 20, 1951 H. w. PORTER ET AL 2,542,836

APPLIANCE, FOR POSITIONING AUTOMOBILE PARTS FOR REFORMING OPERATIONS Filed Aug. 5, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I nvemio 7's. Henry W1 0 W502".

Feb. 20, 1951 H. w. PORTER ET AL 2,542,836

APPLIANCE FOR POSITIONING AUTOMOBILE PARTS FOR REFORMING OPERATIONS Filed Aug. 3, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inv'enions; Iienry WPorZer,

WIJZZILaWI/HFrguSOW Feb. 20, 1951 H w PORTER ET AL 2,542,836

APPLIANCE EO'R POSITIONING AUTOMOBILE PARTS FOR REFORMING OPERATIONS Filed Aug. 3, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 .[i U(??LZO Y; [Zen/23] W Fowler, v Will/aural .1 229105021 C IS Feb. 20, 1951 H. w. PORTER arm. 2,542,836

APPLIANCE FOR POSITIONING AUTOMOBILE PARTS FOR REFORMING OPERATIONS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 5, 1944 lnvenibrs:

Hen/21y WPO 2 2 197. a Wall ZamHZ '9 ?'gusp n, wm w Feb. 20, 1951 2,542,836

H. w. PORTER EFAL APPLIANCE FOR POSITIONING AUTOMOBILE PARTS FOR REFORMING OPERATIONS Filed Aug. 3, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 lnvenz'ons: wlzenryjgwl orfer:

5 mm .Fyguson. fia a arefset the Patented Feb. 20, 1951 PATENT OFFICE APPLIANCEFOR' POSITIONING AUTOMGBILE PARTS: FOR; REFORMING OPERATIONS? heat!- W-. Bet er hr e. M35m nd W H Fer s a Better, Mas heh t flint, h-1 ass gn rs t H-"K Everett, Mass at corgoration of Ann iea iee Au ust: 3, e Set atN 5 944 e en. here ith a h l es s h. e e that; at ht h the eraueee Retes efililstltzl hat erqrisie; n te: ver atile e n.- s rue v; eahable; e w var e y of ap l shens e eh ee ht Qt its herel meehehl ea eq s rhet qht Qh im t mlzw l he te uhderste ethr t l"- ehee e. the o l .5: eseri-ht. hak h n @911.- he t oh with he aee mp n his draw ngs Wher In! ea pe-hseee ive Qt: hlianee w th. au eme e 2 9, P e t ehett ther o te strai hteni the she eeh tr etich o the 1 9 qi the mantel taching a beam t A l es:- to 8 'RQlHfiWQ a e v ews: at

showine itftere t heels:

i 9 is. a cliastemmat e Plea a redu e Sca and ig 10 s a seetien, oal ae t I: f: Fiat Re ng o the ihs end: of he as at the: e a s s a r g d m ee hr rte t; Q with up. membe 2 Pref tah shape s more pe ific these parts merge in ea A curves o sub antie as estate the h ear-tie eehs ruct ph n ra eli t9 ut peeedr ir-79m eac o her h slate: ct: ste rable scatetniee l3. Claims 1-, 2

onev e upr ght 26 f th ransv rs ram 25;. Between 'these two longitudinal frames and the t ans se r me, re s a u nt ork: his spac nob ru ed fr m er id ie vhee s 12 o cl m s 36 im ar qhos shown in the wo F r s nts abov eferred: to, are. adap 9- he ah hored to. hes tra ne an po n s t ef t o t h i leng h ncl d the u in ar ho r rntjons where the horizontal elements merge into the uprights; Preferably, as.- shown in Fig 2 and, 3., each frame comprises a pair of channels with their flanges opposed but slightly spaced to provide a through slot 30 between the same to t ee ve, o instance, a h hs bolts 4, or sehiring a ideem 2 or s en in F 3,, a dampin e t t adae el; o e e e base 25 a Qv clamp 35, Wh eh b se.- l se t on e te flanges o the two c annels W i the nnels may. be suitably tied together atintervals, essentially they present a continuous slot 30 th iohehe t heir eng h o at the bolts 3 e 0 may e pos tion d at any o n de r d- The o m Q the e m 3 h re nl s r t and of the, clamps 36 may be the same as is deecl in theEerguson Patent 2,311,042 and they enoextentled description herein. We here l m t ut lit o t em nrae i e- Referring now to Fig, 1, We have there illustra one, application of the: improved appliance wh ein it will be seen that a beam 32 is mounted on the transverse frame 25 and on this beam two clamps 336 much as in Patent 2,275,894, and th clampsengage an automobile door adjacent the belt line. The bottom of the door extends over the frames Z9 and 3;! and is secured, to each t them by a C clamp in vertical position engaging the. bottom edge; of the. door. The window name. is thusin ov rhanging position toward the reader in the figure. Another beam 3.2 is shown secured to theverti cal faces of the frames 29, and 31 by means of bolts 34, each passin through the; n itudina sl in h b m: an t e a e between the two, channels which form a frame, and, this beam forms a support for a, power spoon Q1? 6 he e l tr ted as o h tre wn an they in act. hav n irs the Ferguson Patent. 2,211,341, by means of wh ch th header f the ame mar be us ed wardly. and toward the left, viewing the figdeh ere, t e deer he d. ei la wh le pressu e i applied to the upper door frame construction substantially in a horizontal plane. It will be noted that the jack 62 and the bar 32 which supports it may be adjusted up and down or sidewise, thus permitting the entire upper section to be aligned from this position without any danger of distorting the lower panel of the door.

In Fig. 4 there is shown an example of the use.

of one of the slots M in the flanges of the base. Here a beam and clamps are supported on the transverse frame 25 substantially as before and secure the bottom edge of a rear sedan door,

the nearer clamp in the figure being placed adjacent the cut-out defined by the wheel housing. The upper portion of the door is-clamped by a C clamp positioned on the horizontal member of the further longitudinal frame 29 while the other 1 rests on the nearer frame 3 I. In other words, the

door has three points of anchorage and one point of support andit will be seen that the extended portion overhangs the side of the base. A beam 32 may be inserted through the slot l4 along this side of the base and a jack 62, to the ram of which is secured a c clamp fixed to this extended portion of thedoor, may be supported by the projecting end of the beam which serves as a bracket. An arrangement such as that illustrated utilizing a. hydraulic jack of the push-pull type is By varying the length of the projecting portion of the bar and the angle at which it lies a wide variation in position for jack 62 is provided for. The space below the floor I!) between the flanges i2 is substantially unobstructed in the horizontally plane of said slot to permit such adjustment of the position of the bar. The slot 14 shown adjacent the transverse frame may be utilized in a similar "manner to provide a projecting bracket useful a 'for acting on a member secured in overhanging relation to that frame or to a beam carried thereby, either for an additional point of anchorage or as a base for the application of force. v

,In.the preferred construction shown two slots Mare provided along each side of the base and adaptable to pull the extended part. of the door construction into alignment.

one at each end. A beam 32 may be extended through a pair of slots in any one of the positions indicated by. dotted lines in Fig. 9. Reference to Fig. 4 shows that, while the height of the slots closely corresponds to the depth of the beam, they are elongatedto permit considerable variation in the direction in which it is inserted. To provide an extended bearing for the beam the margins of the slots may be flanged inwardly as shown. It has been stated above that'the space beneath the floor Ill is substantially unobstructed in the horizontal plane ofthe slots. In order to provide a firm bearing for an inserted beam and distance beyond frame 25 and then slopes downward. The projection provides a horizontal supporting surface outward of the frame to receive a jack base while keeping the frame generally at the end and convenient to the workman while the curved wall provides an upwardly facing diagonal surface permitting the positioning of a jack base thereagainst to dispose the ram in an upwardly and outwardly extending line for the exertion of force along such a line On a part mounted on the machine with a. portion overhanging to the left of the figures.

' Fig, 5 illustrates an application wherein a front fender is anchored to the appliance in an overhanging. position so that a mechanic has free access to either the inner or outer section of the fender. Herein the forward portion of the fender along the inner edge is secured by a horizontally positioned C clamp on a beam 32 secured to the transverse frame 25. A beam 32 is secured to parallel uprights of the frames 29 and 3| and supports a horizontally positioned C clamp for engaging the lower edge of the fender while the upper edge is secured by a vertically positioned C clamp along the horizontal portion of the longitudinal frame 3!. Obviously the position of the fender may be varied due to the wide adjustability provided, and the mechanic not only has "access from the nearer side in the drawings but may enter from the further side through the space between the transverse frame 25 on the one hand and the longitudinal frames 29 and 3| on the other.

In the previous examples anchorage to the transverse frame'25 is secured through a beam or door bar attached thereto; In Fig. 6 we have shown a front fender held in position by means of three clamps, two in vertical position, one on the horizontal portion of longitudinal frame 3|, and the other on the beam 32 supported on the horizontal member of the transverse frame 25. The lower portion of the fender, however, is secured by a horizontally disposed clamp which is anchoreddirectly to the nearer upright of the frame 25. The beam 32 carried by this frame extends beneath the edge of the fender to give it an underriding support and another beam is secured to the front faces of the longitudinal frames 29 and 3| to support the fender adjacent its other end. This arrangement permits a mechanic to use hydraulic pressure on the fender or a pneumatic hammer could be used.

In Fig. 7 there is illustrated an application in which a' beam is "supported along the curved shoulders of the longitudinal frames 29 and 3|. In this case a. trunk lid is shown,the nearer portion of which is secured by vertical clampsto the bar 32 carried by the transverse frame 25. The bar 32 at the right in the figure is bolted to the frames 29 and tl along the curve connecting the horizontal and vertical portions, which places the bar and the clamps carried thereby at an angle so that the high crowned upper section of the trunk lid can be anchored without distorting :the outer panel surface when pressure is applied. By the use of such an arrangement a trunk lid. can be clamped in any position necessary for straightening or metal finishing. We have herein 'shown a power spoon 52 as shownjin Ferguson Patent 2,211,341 as inserted in the space between the transverse and longitudinal frames for' operating on the portion of the panel extending between the same and deriving its support from the rigid floor IU of the base. V

In Fig. 8 we have shown two beams, each anchored adjacent one end to the horizontal portion of the transverse frame and adjacent the other end to the horizontal portion of the longitudinal frame adjacent the same side of the machine, thus providing a rigid horizontal supportin structure, to which We have here illustrated a radia or coresecu ed; ou ertica flames, ti ea ied hr echi the bars. Qhvicu lyl he fi c ii ew dt varr na hein sit n a ona beher nia branch of frame where anchorage is effec tecl with u h; ompe sat ng adicst nc t that mbe aeet he o i ud nal: ram s may; b new: a t-rot des red-r A Jack .2. shown etw en. h ta atc te ncl' hebase fth a a at r or f: size w ther from tr ck; r pass ger an an-be: traieh enesibt such, an; arr n ement 3 1c pp ica ic sof the p i nce; arg m ct ic 11v nfin tesv r e v a d=-havel h wn me, i a f w t ste p ssib ties W re w r a e nv ntio mavt e em? odied in the p c fi f r. without departin from the spirit or essential attributes; thereof, and We therefore desire. thepresent embodiment to be considered in allrespectjs as illustrative and not restrictive, as is in fact clear in several matters from the, description itself. Reference is to be had to the appended claims to indicate those principles of the invention exemplifiedby the particular embodiment described and which we desire to secure by hetterslPatent.

We claim:

1. A device for positioning automobile frame or body parts while they are; being worked: upon for use in conjunction with clamps and clampsupporting beams comprising a base adapted to supportstrain, a rigid frame of; the general for-m of an inverted U arising therefrom at; an; end thereof and a pair-of similar frames paralle1 to one another and substantially coplanar'with uprights of the first frame but; spaced substantially therefrom to provide an intervening working space, the frames presenting between their side faces, substantially continuously throughouttheir length. slots. providing for the passage, therethrough of anchoring bolts for such clamps or beams.

2. A device for positioning automobile frame or body parts while they are being worked upon for use in conjunction with clamps and clampsupporting beams, said device comprising a base with depending flanges which is adapted to support strain, a rigid frame in the general form of an inverted U arising therefrom at one end thereof, a clamp-supporting structure remote from said end, the flange at said end having an opening to receive a beam to project therefrom as a bracket adjacent the frame.

3. A device for positioning automobile frame or body parts while they are being worked upon for use in conjunction with clamps and clamp-supporting beams, said device comprising a base with depending flanges which is adapted to support strain, a rigid frame in the general form of an inverted U arising therefrom at one end thereof, and a pair of similar frames remote from said end and extending adjacent the sides of the base, the flange along one of said sides having an opening to receive a beam to project therefrom as a bracket to oppose parts secured to said frames.

4. A device for positioning automobile frame or body parts while they are being worked upon for use in conjunction with clamps and clampsupp-orting beams comprising an elevated base which is adapted to support strain, a rigid frame in the general form of an inverted U arising therefrom at one end thereof, a pair of similar frames remote from said end and extending adjacent the sides of the base, and means at one fthis, support may; be -varied o sa d sides er spend ng a b en partially s a ted be eat he base w h its u r a e: jetti g asta, bracket tot prcs par s ecure; o; said, frames,

A device for position ng. utomobi e rame or dyea r swhfl th y: are ein work d upo for se in con-Junc t dams and c a p s p o in be c mp in a base. a a ed o su p rt strain, a, i d tran v frameac ss an end thereofhaving. a horizontal top, longitudi na lit l e o cei lam inabol l nd; a pa r of, frames, of the general form of an inverted Lt and of substantially the same altitude as the n verse; dispo ed ralle toea h, other n pace re a ion lo e id s o the ase ubst nt a -1r r m te, r m he n ver e rame to pr ovide an interyening working space, the late. ter frames presenting bolt-receiving, slots e};- endine. r u ho h rh ri ont por 6., A device for positioning, automobile frame or ody par W i e the re be w rkannon us i omm t o with: a s an c amp supporting beams comprising a, base adapted to,

snppcrt, strain, a rigid, transverse frame across,

me d the eof h v g, or ntal. ton ongitude allv slotted tov e ive damping b lts nd a pair of fr mes of the general, form Q an in rte t of. bstan all he. same altitude t e, ransverse, rame disposed. Pa al el tQ e c 0 211 1? n. pac d r lat n; a one the sides of h bas ubstan ia ly emo e rom h rans er e f ame. to provide an intervening working spacethelat; ter fr arnes .,presenting bQllJ-receiving slots extend"- ns. h ougho t their le ths- 7. A device for positioning automobile frame or body parts While they are being workedupon comprising a base having a floor adapted to support strain, a rigid transverse frame across an end thereof having a horizontal top and a pair of frames of the general form of an; inverted U and or substantially the same altitude as the transverse frame disposed parallel to each other in spaced relation along the sides of the base substantially remote from the transverse frame to provide an intervening working space and means at the sides of the base substantially in the planes thereof for suspending a beam with its end projecting under the floor, the under side of the floor being substantially unobstructed in the horizontal plane of said opening to permit said end to extend across the floor and at differing angles.

8. A device for positioning automobile frame or body parts while they are being worked upon comprising a base having a floor adapted to support strain, a rigid transverse frame across an end thereof having a horizontal top and a pair of frames of the general form of an inverted U and of substantially the same altitude as the transverse frame disposed parallel to each other in spaced relation along the sides of the base substantially remote from the transverse frame to provide an intervening working space and means at said end and at the sides of the base substantially in the planes thereof for suspending a beam with its end projecting under the floor, the under sid of the floor being substantially unobstructed in the horizontal plane of said opening to permit said end to extend across the floor and at differing angles.

9. A device for positioning automobile frame or body parts comprising a base having an elevated floor adapted to support strain and depending flanges, elements rising from said floor having provision for clamping thereto parts to be Operated on, the flanges of the base having openings therein through pairs of which a beam may be inserted to extend secantwise across the base with an end projecting as a bracket to oppose parts'secured to said elements.

10. A device for positioning automobile frame or'body parts comprising a base having an elevated floor adapted to support strain and depending flanges, elements rising from said floor having provision for clamping thereto parts to be operated on, a flange of the base having an opening therein into which a beam may be inserted with an end projecting as a bracket to oppose parts secured to said elements, and means within the base presenting bearing surfaces substantially in the planes of the upper and lower margins of said openings additionally to support the inserted beam.

11. A device for positioning automobile frame or body'parts while they are being worked upon for use in conjunction with clamps and clampsupporting beams, said device comprising a base having an elevated floor adapted to support strain, a rigid, transversely disposed frame in the general form of an inverted U arising therefrom adjacent one end thereof, a clamp-supporting structure remote from said end and defining a working space between the same and said frame, the floor at said one end extending horizontally for a short distance beyond said frame and terminating in a downwardly and outwardly sloping surface.

12. A device for positioning automobileframe or body parts while they ar being Worked upon for use in conjunction with clamps and clampsupporting beams, said device comprising a base having an elevated floor adapted to support strain, a rigid, transversely disposed frame in the general form of an inverted U arising therefrom adjacent one end thereof, a clamp-supporting structure remote from said end and defining a working spac between the same and said frame,

the said one end of the base presenting a downwardly and outwardly sloping surface outward of said frame.

13. A device for positioning automobile frame or body parts while they are being worked upon for use in conjunction with clamps and clamp supporting beams comprising a base adapted to support strain, having arising therefrom a plurality of spaced anchorage frames of inverted U-' shape and of substantially the same altitude, each frame comprising a pair of spaced channels having opposed flanges defining between them a slot substantially coextensive with the base and legs of the U and presenting a horizontal part and vertical parts merging along easy curvesof substantial radius.

HENRY W. PORTER. WILLIAM H. FERGUSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

